PL HELP ME i begging YO By the year 1500, Europeans had mainly been staying in one part of the world – Europe- for almost a thousand years. However, at the end of the 15th century, European explorers began sailing to the far ends of the Earth, seeking out places they thought no one had ever been.
The Dangers of Exploration
Sailing out into uncharted waters was an incredibly dangerous thing to do. No Europeans really knew what was out there. Uneducated people still thought the world was flat and that sailing too far could mean falling off the end of the world. The explorers and sailors knew better, but they still were only guessing at where they were going. Sailing into unknown territory could lead to attack by enemy ships or pirates. The explorers also didn’t know how long their trips would take, so they were risking starvation and dying of thirst (drinking the ocean water would kill them). They also risked death by diseases such as scurvy, caused by lack of Vitamin C (known for its symptoms of bloody gums). All ocean ships were still made out of wood, and the high winds and ferocious waves of sea storms could crush their ships or flip them over and sink them. Since the explorers didn’t really know where they were going, they could easily get lost at sea. Finally, when the crew of a ship grew angry, they would sometimes have a mutiny – a rebellion against the captain, which would cause chaos on a ship.
Why would men want to make such dangerous trips?
Reasons for Exploration
One main motive was trade. Europe had long been interested in trading with Asia, so they could have access to the exotic spices that could keep food fresh and preserved. A problem arose when the Ottoman Turks conquered many lands between Europe and Asia. The Turks and Arabs had set up middlemen that Europeans would have to pay if they wanted Asian goods. Instead of paying these middlemen, some Europeans had the idea of finding new ways of getting to Asia over the oceans. They figured that if they sailed far enough west, they could reach China and India by wrapping around the globe. Besides seeking spices in Asia, the Europeans were also hoping to find precious metals, such as gold, in new lands.
Another motive was that the European countries were competing with each other for new territory. Each of them wanted to claim new lands in making their country bigger and more powerful. They wanted to spread the glory of their nation by taking over new lands. When one country takes over or controls another it is called imperialism. Along with these conquerors went missionaries – people sent to spread religious messages and convert others to their faith.
In short, the reasons for European exploration can be summarized by the 3 G’s:

God, Glory and Gold

1. In the chart below, list 3 risks that came with exploring the oceans. On the other side, explain three benefits, rewards, or motivations for exploring.
RISKS
BENEFITS (MOTIVATIONS)
a.

a.
b.

b.
c.

c.

2. What is imperialism?

3. What are missionaries and what did they want?

How was Exploration Made Possible?
New Technologies
Johann Guttenberg’s invention of the printing press made maps and geographic information much more available. Since gunpowder had been introduced to the Europeans by the Arabs in the 1200s, Europeans developed new weapons that could keep their ships safe from invaders. Spanish and Portuguese ships were the first to perfect very powerful canons that made their ships deadly to any other on the sea. Naval technology was also extremely important. Mapmakers, or cartographers, created better maps and charts of the seas. Also, European sailors learned to use the magnetic compass to find better directions at sea. Europeans also built bigger and better ships. The Portuguese used ships whose sails, masts, and rudders allowed explorers to sail across or against the wind.

Strong Monarchies
European countries were also becoming ruled by monarchies (governments led by a king or queen) that built up their armies and navies and wanted to use them. The kings and queens of Europe were increasing their power and resources, and they could focus beyond their borders. They were willing to pay for the expensive and risky trips explorers were willing to make at sea, hoping they could make their kingdoms richer.

4. What were 3 new technologies in the 1400s that would allow explorers to sail farther out to sea?

New Technology
Why was this important?
1)

2)

3)

5. What is a monarchy?

6. Why would strong monarchies in Europe lead to more sea exploring?